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Sparks takes 2nd at Stratton Brook; Avon girls repeat as CT Valley champions

Canton's Max Sparks (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

Canton’s Max Sparks (Photo courtesy Bill Brewster)

SIMSBURY, Sept. 17 – The transition from the soccer field is working out just fine for Canton High junior Max Sparks.

In his second cross country race, Sparks finished second with a time of 16:51 at the 36th annual Stratton Brook Invitational in Simsbury, trailing Zakeer Ahmad of Staples by just four seconds in the Large Division race on Saturday. It was the third fastest time of the day on the 3.1 mile course.

Sparks helped Canton finish sixth in the Large Division race, which was won by Staples with a dominating 28-89 win over Hall of West Hartford. Simsbury slipped past Glastonbury, 116-117 to finish third.

Ethan Porter was second for Canton in 16th place with a time of 18:38. Trent Sawtele (29, 19:22), Andrew Obrzut (44, 20:10) and Peter Royer (47, 20:16) rounded out the top five for the Warriors.

Sparks, who played soccer as a freshman and sophomore, is the second Canton runner to finish second in the Large Division race. Chris Bussiere did it twice in 2004 and in 2005. Brian Magna (2007) and Chris Bradley (2006) each finished second in the Small Division races. Sparks’ time is the best by a Canton runner at the event.

The Canton High girls took seventh in the Large Division race, led by Emily Briggs in 12th place with a time of 21:25. Belle Magna finished 23rd with a time of 22:05. Rounding out the remainder of the varsity squad was Cameron McCauley (43, 22:59), Helena Winkler (44, 22:59) and Abby Briggs (57, 23:37).

The Warriors had a combined time of 1:53.10, which would have been good enough for second place if they had run in the Small Division. For the Canton boys, a combined time of 1:35.17 would have been good for fifth place in the Small Division.

Stratton Brook Invitational
At Simsbury
LARGE DIVISION BOYS
Team results — 1. Staples, 28; 2. Hall, 89; 3. Simsbury, 116; 4. Glastonbury, 117; 5. Bristol Central, 127; 6. Canton, 137; 7. RHAM, 160; 8. Conard, 215; 9. Farmington, 234; 10. Windsor, 298; 11. Torrington, 322
Top 10 individuals: 1. Zakeer Ahmad, Staples, 16:47 for 3.1 miles at Simsbury; 2. Max Sparks, Canton, 16:51; 3. Solomon Davis, Simsbury, 16:57; 4. Benjamin Seiple, Staples, 17:09; 5. Sunil Green, Staples, 17:11; 6. Chris Reeves, Glastonbury, 17:35; 7. Michael Kokines, Simsbury, 17:48; 8. Brian MacCordy, Staples, 17:56; 9. Matthew Gutierrez, Simsbury, 17:58; 10. Christian Myers, Staples, 18:03

SMALL DIVISION BOYS
Teams — 1. Northwestern, 38; 2. Immaculate, 80; 3. Pittsfield (Mass.), 114; 4. Shepaug, 118; 5. Northwest Catholic, 141; 6. Granby, 161; 7. Watertown, 176; 8. Windham, 179; 9. Thomaston, 200; 10. Litchfield, 223; 11. University, 272; 12. Gilbert, 332; 13. Housatonic, 378
Top 10 individuals: 1. Sean Parker, Shepaug, 16:37 for 3.1 miles at Simsbury; 2. Gavin Woodward, Northwestern, 17:17; 3. Connor McNerny, Immaculate, 17:47; 4. Brian Waterston, Northwest Catholic, 17:54; 5. Connor Spencer, Northwestern, 18:05; 6. Patrick Cropsy, Immaculate, 18:08; 7. Sean Walsh, Shepaug, 18:17; 8. Chris Mangini, Northwestern, 18:20; 9. Paul Wales, Pittsfield (Mass.), 18:22; 10. Sean Labbe, Northwestern, 18:24

LARGE DIVISION GIRLS
Team results: 1. Glastonbury, 36; 2. Staples, 74; 3. RHAM, 116; 4. Newtown, 119; 5. Simsbury, 158; 6. Conard, 160; 7. Canton, 163; 8. Hand, 180; 9. Manchester, 215; 10. Hall, 264; 11. Bristol Central, 273; 12. Torrington, 277
Top 10 individuals: 1. Susie Martin, Staples, 19:59 for 3.1 miles at Simsbury; 2. Maeve Daily, Simsbury, 20:07; 3. Brittney Brown, Windsor, 20:11; 4. Gaelyn Kattman, Glastonbury, 20:33; 5. Alexandra Ross, Glastonbury, 20:35; 6. Gwen Geisler, Conard, 20:47; 7. Erin McGill, Glastonbury, 21:04; 8. Libby Walker, RHAM, 21:07; 9. Alyson Murray, Staples, 21:11; 10. Brittany Anderson, Glastonbury, 21:19

SMALL DIVISION GIRLS
Team results: 1. Immaculate, 32; 2. Shepaug, 82; 3. Granby, 84; 4. Housatonic, 110; 5. Watertown, 129; 6. Northwest Catholic, 170; 7. Thomaston, 179; 8. Northwestern, 181; 9. Bloomfield, 183
Top 10 individuals: 1. Angela Saidman, Immaculate, 19:53 for 3.1 miles at Simsbury; 2. Sabrina Chesters, Parish Hill, Immaculate, 20:53; 3. Danielle Marcone, Immaculate, 20:53; 4. Emma Krebs, Shepaug, 21:04; 5. Kathryn Shea, Northwest Catholic, 21:08; 6. Brigid Gage, Immaculate, 21:13; 7. Kennedy Baggott, Granby, 21:15; 8. Bethany Ottowitz, Watertown, 32:24; 9. Diana Kirkman, Immaculate, 21:25; 10. Jahlyssa Blackwin, Bloomfield, 21:54
Top Granby runners: 18. Amy Briggs, Granby, 22:40; 23. Gabby Clonts, Granby, 23:38; 24. Bailee Kendrick, Granby, 23:56; 25. Hannah Shoaf, Granby, 24:03

2016 Stratton Brook Invitational full results

Avon wins for second year
CROMWELL, Sept. 17 – For the second consecutive season, the Avon High girls cross country team won the championship at the Connecticut River Invitational in Cromwell. The Falcons had five runners among the top 12 finishers to edge Mercy-Middletown, 45-49 for the title.

Junior Emily Foley led Avon by taking third with a time of 19:56 over the 3.1-mile course. Sara Leavens (9, 20:30), Christina Martin (10, 20:35), Rachel Martin (11, 20:38) and Caroline Luby (12, 20:39) finished strong to help the Falcons win the championship.

Mercy was led by Bridgid Selfors, who won the race in 18:24, Rachael Cipolla, who was fifth in 20:09, and Elise Hallstead-Williams in eighth place (20:27). But Mercy’s next two runners were too far back (16, 19) to beat the Falcons.

Rounding out the top seven for Avon was Ashley Martin (21, 21:31) and Francesa Cleary (34, 22:09). The Avon junior varsity won their respective championship trophy by placing six runners in the top 10. Rachel Nori won the junior varsity race in 22:11.

The Avon boys cross country team did not race on Saturday. The Falcons return to action on Tuesday when they travel to Colt Park in Hartford for a dual meet with Bulkeley.

6th annual Connecticut River Invitational
At Cromwell
GIRLS
Team results: 1. Avon, 45; 2. Mercy-Middletown, 49; 3. Old Saybrook, 102; 4. Nonnewaug, 121; 5. Coginchaug, 125; 6. Old Lyme, 170; 7. Weston, 181; 8. Wethersfield, 190; 9. Sacred Heart Academy, 279; 10. Sheehan, 280; 11. St. Paul, 280; 12. Lyman Memorial, 286
Top 10 finishers: 1. Bridgid Selfors, Mercy, 18:24 for 3.1 miles at Cromwell; 2. Allie Alsup, Coginchaug, 19:22; 3. Emily Foley, Avon, 19:56; 4. Isabella, Schroeder, Wethersfield, 20:06; 5. Rachael Cipolla, Mercy, 20:09; 6. Ashley Dana, Coginchaug, 20:11; 7. Jael Givehand, Old Saybrook, 20:25; 8. Elise Hallstead-Williams, Mercy, 20:27; 9. Sara Leavens, Avon, 20:30; 10. Christina Martin, Avon, 20:35

2016 CT River Invitational results

Gerry deSimas, Jr., is the editor and founder of The Collinsville Press. He is an award-winning writer and has been covering sports in Connecticut and New England for more than 30 years.

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